Keep your wagon forever?

My wife and I enjoy very much our 96 Roady wagon. It has only 82,000 miles on it, and is 100% rust free. We talked today about keeping it forever. It rides so nice, and the gas mileage for such a big car is great. We go back and forth from Pa to Florida once a year, never driving in snow,so it will always be rust free. My question is this-what parts do you guys think would be wise to stock pile in order to keep it running forever? I know eventually it will need an engine/tranny rebuild, and the usual tires/brakes, etc, but what specific to these cars can you think of? I've already got some spare chrome side trim, and a spare a/c control unit (the one on the dash). Has anyone ever had a problem with the power seat motors? Any other specific part come to mind? I'd love to have an entire parts wagon, but I don't have the room for one. Thanks, Mark.

Find all the the good door panels you can. No joke!

Yeah, I'd focus more on interior bits - and buy stock in SEM because if you've got an obscure interior color, you won't find many. I have no plans on getting rid of mine either, honestly.

Mark:

You are going through a very similar thought process as I have. There probably isn't a generic answer to your question. There is just too many variables, but in general this is what I came up with:

1. Chassis parts (suspension, brakes, etc.): These parts will probably survive in the aftermarket for a number of years as it is still possible to source stuff out there that is 50 years old. Without doubt this will depend on popularity of these cars in the future for collectors. These are bread and butter bits for the aftermarket and I can't see them dropping them as our cars share a lot with other GM vehicles of the same vintage.

2. Powertrain: The engine is the only one here that may prove problematic. The LT1 was only produced for a few years before it morphed into the LS series engines. Having said that, a 5.3/6.0 transplant is not that serious and would serve to extend the service life of the car. The electronics may prove to be an issue down the road as the 1st gen OBD II computers were again only used for a few years. No doubt some whiz kids will come up with some way of upgrading the electronics to the latest generation of ECMs. The 4l60E is still being produced and has a 20 year track record. The rest is conventional and should be available well into the future.

3. Body Parts: If you intend on keeping the car, I would suggest you pick up 1, or if possible 2 of everything. Finding a grill or hood ornament for these cars 10 years from now will be next to impossible and things like doors, fenders, bumpers, chrome trim, etc. will just not exist unless someone in the aftermarket steps up to the plate. Again depending on future demand.

4. Electrical/Electronic components: Luckily, a bunch of bits in our cars are shared by other GM platforms so things like window motors, seat motors, etc. will be around for a while. Where you have to stock up will be in platform/model specific stuff like window switches, electronic dash boards, HVAC controls, interior lighting etc.

The issue we all face is that the industry still considers our cars as the last vestige of the dinosaurs and as "old folks" cars and don't see the potential as collector cars. Currently, these cars are worth more to them as a source of scrap metal than as a source of future income. The aftermarket is, to a small extent, coming around to the possiblitly of these cars being valuable in the future but they are not there yet. How this plays out is yet to be seen.

Plactics, and we have a lot in our cars, are going to be an issue. This stuff does not age well and as such will not be available in the junk yards in any better condition than what is to be replaced.  Glass may be an issue especially for things like our rear wing vents, but typically the auto glass industry has got some real coverage.

As a hobby car or occasional driver, these are still great cars, but as a daily time is running out. We are already having a problem sourcing certain parts. Yes we still have communities like this one to tap off of, but we all share the same issues. Mechanically we can keep these cars going well into the future but the rest of the car will continue to dismantle itself through age and wear. Stock up on the bits that you can find now and store them properly. Additionally you should start working on a good relationship with both a good interior shop and a plastics molding company. If your not so inclined, a good electronics nerd would also be a good contact.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Oh a good lower tailgate hinge and 3rd brake light assembly are both good ideas. The lower hinges on these cars wear out, making the door pop when opening. I replaced the one on my '96 Roady with a good used one. So far the one on my OCC is still fine...I'm keeping it soaked in white grease.

As for the 3rd brake light, the plastic inside breaks down over time. These things get roasted in the sun, being mounted directly to the rear window. Tint should help, but if you have a clear rear window, the sun will bake these suckers.

-Mike

Oddly enough, all the hinges on my old tank are still in good shape. Can't say the same for the GN though; those long, old doors are getting saggy.

Speaking of stockpiling wagon specific bits, that's a lot harder for us '91-'92 OCC guys. Think grilles, bumpers, tail lights, body cladding.

Keep the wagon forever?

Oh, absolutely.

toomanytoyz wrote:

Keep the wagon forever?

Oh, absolutely.

We're all still constantly amazed to hear you still have it Crovo.......

To add to above, some parts not available today or soon to be discontinued:

Buick wagon specific grille - surprised to find out still avail from GM, but who knows for how long? (MSRP ~ 225).

Not avail today. All the rear glass : Vista roof, long side windows, wing/vents, and rear hatch. The wing/vent and hatch are easy enough to harvest in the JY, the other two quite a bit more work, but to have a shop replace = BIG $$ even today (Sting was quoted something like $500 for rear hatch)

I can sell brand new Roadmaster wagon grilles for $157.74 plus any shipping, taxes (if applicable).....Lemme know!
Paint to match Impala SS grilles for $54.21 plus.......No emblem included.

Olds Weighty Eight wrote:

Oddly enough, all the hinges on my old tank are still in good shape. Can't say the same for the GN though; those long, old doors are getting saggy.

Speaking of stockpiling wagon specific bits, that's a lot harder for us '91-'92 OCC guys. Think grilles, bumpers, tail lights, body cladding.

At least you can just replace the bushings on the GN doors. Easy 30 minute job.

Yeah... I was quoted like $530 for a rear glass. Stupid money. Just stupid.

Stingroo wrote:

Yeah... I was quoted like $530 for a rear glass. Stupid money. Just stupid.

I gave one away a few months ago and I have one left, sitting in the attic "just in case." If you really need it feel free to come get it.

This was two years ago. :p

It's funny about parts like glass. Some of us will sit on these parts for years and no one wants them even for free. When one breaks though, none are to be found.

I had a perfect rear hatch glass... nobody wanted it I got tired of holding it so I left it behind. These wagon specific windows are going to be tough to find in the future.

Interesting thread since I have a 95 RMW that I also intend to keep forever.

Regarding the center mounted third stop light, just take it apart and replace with LEDs. The old festoon-type bulbs will destroy the plastic housing (or whatever it is) and bulb sockets.

LED bulbs that will snap right in are readily available and a they are brighter than the old bulbs. And no, they won't disable the cruise control.

Same thing holds true for the back-up lights. LEDs are much brighter although kinda expensive.

Bill

Stingroo wrote:

Yeah... I was quoted like $530 for a rear glass. Stupid money. Just stupid.

yup that 330 mile ride for $20 bucks sure seem like a good deal didn't it?

I'm sitting on 3 rear hatch glass now...think I have two sets of wing windows. No sides or vista sadly. Probably should get on that one...